Alex James' Big Feastival - Music and fine foods galore

Alex James has been continuing with his various, multicoloured side projects since Blur finished their Hyde Park gig (with Damon Albarn saying there are no plans to continue yet).

For those in the UK and are free on September 1st - 2rd, master chef Jamie Oliver is presenting The Big Feastival with Alex James, a colourful two-day celebration of music, food and fun for all the family, set on Alex James’s very own Oxfordshire farm. 

As mentioned on the website, you can "enjoy music from top acts, tuck into top chef demos in the Big Kitchen and have your fill from The Menu, which brings together pop-ups from top restaurants and the cream of the UK’s street food crop."

Browse the Artisan Food Market for more edible enjoyment from a stunning selection of small producers and food businesses, and between eating, drinking and dancing, join a cookery session, dig a herb garden, raid the dressing-up box or take a spin around the on-site funfair. 

Keep big and little kids happy in the fun-filled Little Dudes Den, where Peppa Pig herself will be among the all-day entertainment highlights – or put them to work in Mini Masterchef and turn them into little Jamies. Go for the day, go camping, or style it out with our glamping options provided by The Pop-Up Hotel – there really is something for everyone.

So, if you want to meet Alex James, or enjoy the music, remember to visit the site for full details of where it is, what’s on and why you mustn’t miss out on the Feastival. Buy tickets here.

Order the new Blur: Parklife (Live at Hyde Park CD / DVD) HERE

Order the new Blur boxset HERE
Blur first ever 2012 gig-  Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

Blur Exhibition review and photos HERE

Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE

Rumours: Blur still play live after Hyde Park? HERE

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Damon Albarn to put Blur aside for now

According to a recent report by Total Essex, Damon Albarn dismissed the 'this-is-all-over' Blur talk that was all over the media before and after Hyde Park 2012. 


On Hyde Park, Damon Albarn was patriotic and very proud to be British: "It was brilliant really. The whole thing was very special. What an extraordinary couple of weeks it's been. The whole Olympics has been brilliant – a tonic for the whole country – and it was an honour to be a part of that.

"I love this country and I love this city. London is our city and I live just round the corner from Hyde Park so when I was given the invitation to do the gig, I jumped at it really."

"I think they are both strong Blur tunes – both sides of Blur really. We wanted to prove that we are still evolving because we have never stood still," said Damon on the new Blur songs.

"The world is a different place – almost unrecognisable – to when we started and the times when Blur fully existed and so are we. That's the whole point.

So what's in for the future? 

"Yes, It's a full stop for now because we've all got other stuff going on – Graham has another solo album due out, Dave is busy with politics and being a lawyer and Alex is combining making cheese and running a farm with his life as a media whore while the African Express sets off round the country this week – but to say it's 'The End', that's not true at all."

There's also a secret - Damon also remarked: "We've talked about it privately and I have my own idea of a scenario but it probably won't be that either because you can't be that clear about such things because you just don't know."

So, 21 years later and the vision is still no clearer than ever. Yes Blur or No Blur, it's still a blurred future. 

Check out Alex James' funny Hyde Park interview about Olympics, crying before the show, closing the show, Blur, Blur being shit and Usain Bolt below. He talks about Blur's fitness levels, Terry Hall and other hilarious little anecdotes. 

All we want to know is - what exactly did Blur discuss about that they can't tell us ? 

Order the new Blur: Parklife (Live at Hyde Park CD / DVD) HERE

Order the new Blur boxset HERE
Blur first ever 2012 gig-  Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

Blur Exhibition review and photos HERE

Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE

Rumours: Blur still play live after Hyde Park? HERE

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If you missed old news, visit the NEWS ARCHIVE to read about past news!

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Graham Coxon - A new album to be out in 2013

Graham Coxon has revealed that there will be a new solo album out some time next year. His latest, A+E, was his seventh solo work after leaving for Blur's Think Tank.

The guitarist posted several cryptic tweets on his official Twitter page with revealing pictures of various body parts. When someone asked, he said that these were hints as to the name of his new solo album. Given the short time of announcement, it is likely to say that the new record will be out some time in January or early 2013.

"Yes Clues" says the next mysterious tweet

Ankle ? Knees ? 

Who's a Graham Coxon Fan ? 

For you Graham Coxon fans, this is exciting and great news. New album out soon in 2013! We all could do with something new. Since the Olympics closing ceremony and it's grand Blur gig, some may feel like it's a Blur slump after the climatic return. 
So here's the riddle:

If A+E = A Knee

Elbow / ankle = ?

Order the new Blur: Parklife (Live at Hyde Park CD / DVD) HERE

Order the new Blur boxset HERE
Blur first ever 2012 gig-  Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

Blur Exhibition review and photos HERE

Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE

Rumours: Blur still play live after Hyde Park? HERE

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

If you missed old news, visit the NEWS ARCHIVE to read about past news!

Remember to subscribe to RSS and "LIKE" BlurBalls on Facebook.

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Damon Albarn hops abroad train for next big tour - Africa Express live

Damon Albarn's moving on after Blur, and he's moved on fast. The front-man literally jumped abroad a fast moving, speedy train and hired all his fellow musicians to create a massive Africa Express tour extravagance. Damon Albarn's Africa Express will be playing from September 3rd 2012 to September 8th 2012. 

Led by Damon, Africa Express brings together musicians from different cultures, genres and generations to break boundaries and offer a new perspective on Africa and its music.

Moreover, there's a train set involved in all this. And it's not unlike the train from the cover of Blur's 'Modern Life is Rubbish' album. Africa Express, the collective of African and Western musicians, is filling a moving train with many guest artists and collaborators and taking it on a musical adventure across mainland Britain this September, produced in association with the Barbican as part of London 2012 Festival.

Africa Express will become ‘The Africa Express’, departing London’s King’s Cross on 2^nd September for a unique musical tour journey passing through England (Bristol, Cardiff and more), Scotland and Wales.

So what we all want to know is - Who's playing in this musical show? 

Damon Albarn, Tony Allen, Amadou & Mariam, Baaba Maal, Baloji, Carl Barât, Bassekou Kouyate, Hatim Bensalha (H-Kayne), Afel Bocoum, Charli XCX, Toumani Diabate, Fatoumata Diawara, Nicolas Jaar, Jack Steadman (Bombay Bicycle Club), Jupiter & Okwess International, Kano, Krar Collective, Kyla La Grange

M1 (Dead Prez), M.anifest, Spoek Mathambo, John McClure (Reverend and the Makers), Noisettes, Nneka, The Temper Trap, Marques Toliver, Rokia Traoré, The Very Best (Soundsystem), Rizzle Kicks and Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs 

Check out some scans (credits to Shelley) of Damon's recent Africa Express interview, dated August 26th 2012 from The Guardian, below.

Check out the times and dates for Africa Express, and buy your tickets here.

Order the new Blur: Parklife (Live at Hyde Park CD / DVD) HERE

Order the new Blur boxset HERE
Blur first ever 2012 gig-  Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

Blur Exhibition review and photos HERE

Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE

Rumours: Blur still play live after Hyde Park? HERE

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

If you missed old news, visit the NEWS ARCHIVE to read about past news!

Remember to subscribe to RSS and "LIKE" BlurBalls on Facebook.

Stay Tuned, leave us a comment below and Get The Latest Blur News delivered straight to you- BlurBalls is the most updated Blur fan site on the internet!